International 14 Walker Trophy at Itchenor Sailing Club

The Walker Trophy is the annual crew-breaking super cup weekend which typically consists of 5-6 short races back-to-back per day. Saturday started with a mill pond flat calm conditions which led to an obvious postponement and bacon sandwich eating and coffee drinking then ensured.

At noon with no wind racing was abandoned for the day, 1 hour later an 8 knot sea breeze arrived but too late for racing.

Sunday started with a light northerly and after no sailing the day before the fleet was keen to launch.

Race 1 started in the northly breeze with Jones/Fitz taking an early lead at the first mark with Fitz/Dobson second. Fitz/Dobson managed to get inside at the gybe point however three quarters of the way to the leeward mark the wind promptly did a 180 which allowed Jones/Fitz to get the new breeze first and claim the win.

Race 2: Again Jones/Fitz first round the windward mark which they held to the finish but this time Jones Snr in second with Fitz/Dobson hot on their tails. A coming together between Fitz/Jones enabled Pascal/Pascal to slip through with Jones taking second, Pascal third, and Fitz fourth.

Race 3: With the wind increasing to a mighty 8 knots the fleet were able to now able to complete two laps in light twin-wiring conditions. Again, Jones was first with Fitz second and Jones Snr third.

Races 5: With the tide starting to turn before the start Fitz was able to read the conditions better and was first round the windward mark with Jones just behind. At the leeward mark Jones tacked early and by the gate had regained the lead.

Race 6: With a building tide starting became more interesting as staying behind the line became a challenge. As usual Jones was first with Fitz second. On the run Jones underestimated the tide allowing Fitz to close the gap but it wasn't quite enough to allow them to get through